The house on mango street questions and answers pdf

1 1 The House on Mango Street Discussion Questions The House on Mango Street 1. Why is the House on Mango Street an improvement over the narrator s other homes? In what ways does it fall short of her dream House ? 2. How large is the narrator s family? What is their religion? What do you think the following quotation says about the narrator s feelings about her home? I knew then I had to have a House . A real House . One I could point to. 3. What do you think is the significance of the four little elms the city planted by the curb ?

2 Hairs Rosettes- little roses 1. What character traits are suggested for each of the following family members by the narrator s description of each one s hair? Papa Carlos Nenny Kiki 2. What does the following quotation suggest about the quality of the narrator s home? The snoring, the rain, and Mama s hair that smells like bread. 3. About how old do you think the narrator is at the beginning of the novel? Boys & Girls 1. What qualities does the narrator want in a best friend? 2. In what way can it be said the narrator has mixed feelings about her sister Nenny?

3 3. This novel is writing in a poetic style. What do you think is the meaning of the following metaphor: Until then I am a red balloon tied to an anchor. My Name Chandelier- a holder for several candles or electric lights 1. Why is it bad luck for a woman to be born in the year of the horse? 2. Why does Esperanza say that she has her grandmother s name but doesn t want to inherit her place by the window ? 3. What does Esperanza dislike about her name? Why do you suppose she wants to be called Zeze the x? 2 Cathy Queen of Cats 1.

4 This chapter is written partly with Esperanza as the narrator and partly with Cathy narrating. What is the first line narrated by Cathy? What is the last? Why do you think the author decides to write part of this chapter from Cathy s point of view? 2. What does Cathy say to hurt Esperanza? How are Cathy s parents and Esperanza s parents alike? Our Good Day 1. Briefly describe Lucy and Rachel. Why do you think Esperanza likes them? 2. Why do you think Esperanza decides to buy the bicycle with Lucy and Rachel, knowing she will make Cathy mad forever ?

5 What does Esperanza learn about herself and the kinds of friends she wants to have? Laughter 1. In what ways is Esperanza s sister, Nenny, similar to Esperanza? 2. This is an episodic novel written in small vignettes or literary sketches. What observation about family do you think Cisneros is making in this chapter? Gil s Furniture Bought & Sold 1. What are the gold glasses floating in the dark ? 2. In what way is Esperanza both disappointed in the music box Nenny finds and delighted with it? To what extent may the box be considered a metaphor for Esperanza s neighborhood?

6 3. Why do you think the old man does not want to sell the music box? 4. Contrast Nenny s behavior toward the man who owns the junk shop with Esperanza s. Why doesn t Esperanza talk to the old man? 5. Read the following passage from the story. What do you think Esperanza is feeling? And then I don t know why, but I have to turn around and pretend I don t care about the box so Nenny won t see how stupid I am. Meme Ortiz 1. Why do you think Meme and his dog both have two names? 2. Support or refute the following statement: The huge tree in Meme s backyard is a metaphor describing how the outside world views Esperanza s neighborhood.

7 What can the red balls represent? 3 3. What does the following passage from the story suggest about Meme s character? This is the tree we chose for the First Annual Tarzan Jumping Contest. Meme won. And broke both arms. Louie, His Cousin & His Other Cousin 1. Why do you think Marin stands in the doorway of her home, snapping her fingers and singing the same song over and over again? If she is employed selling cosmetics, why does she still need to baby-sit the younger gals? 2. Support or refute the following statement: Louie s cousin might have gotten away with stealing the yellow Cadillac if he had not gone back to Mango Street to give his family a ride in the car.

8 3. After Louie s cousin is arrested for stealing the yellow car, why do Esperanza and his family all wave to him as the police drive him away? Why aren t they upset he has been arrested? 4. Why do you think Esperanza describes this incident with Louie s cousin as being important ? Marin 1. Many critics believe this novel expresses many feminist views. From the perspective of a feminist, what is wrong with Marin s dream described in the following passage? ..she s going to get a real job downtown because that s where the best jobs are, since you always get to look beautiful and get to wear nice clothes and can meet someone in the subway who might marry you.

9 2. What does the following passage from the novel suggest about Marin s fate? What are her chances of finding someone to rescue her from her life on Mango Street ? Marin, under streetlight, dancing by herself, is singing the same song somewhere. I know. Is waiting for a car to stop, a star to fall, someone to change her life. Those Who Don t 1. What does the sentence All brown all around, we are safe mean? 2. Support or refute the following statement: Cisneros believes people of all races feel fear and prejudice and fit into the category of Those Who Don t.

10 There Was on Old Woman She Had So Many Children She Didn t Know What to Do 1. Cisneros presents many examples of women s lives on Mango Street . What do you think Esperanza learns about a woman s life from Rosa Vargas? 2. Why do the neighbors give up on the Vargas children? What can you infer about Angel Vargas fate by his name? 4 Alicia Who Sees Mice 1. What is Alicia doing to escape from Mango Street 2. Support or refute the following statement: The description of the mice is a metaphor for a woman s life on Mango Street .

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